Making Dallas Home OF PREMIER MORTGAGE ASSOCIATES CHIODO

“It’s not about just a loan. It’s about helping our borrowers get to financial independence. We’ve chosen to dig in with people and educate them on the big picture and help them grow their wealth.”

Michael Chiodo graduated high school amid the 20082012 financial and housing crisis. While many agents and lenders were leaving the business, Michael jumped into the industry with the largest REO brokerage in the nation. At the time Michael didn’t yet understand the bigger picture of what was happening in the real estate industry. All he knew was that he felt connected to the business. He continued working in real estate and lending throughout his time at University of San Diego.

“I was hustling loans between classes, going to school, and trying to keep a social life at 20 years old,” Michael says with a telling laugh. “It was a great experience, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

After graduating with a finance and supply chain management degree in 2014, Michael decided to make mortgage lending his full-time career. He continued building a business in his hometown of San Diego, making a name for himself as one of the area’s most creative, up-andcoming lenders.

Coming to Dallas

Michael’s business was thriving in San Diego, but he had always wanted to branch out and engage in a new city and culture. In 2016, he began purchasing investment properties in Dallas.

“I loved that Dallas was in the center of the country. Texas always enamored me. I always saw California and Texas as the power players in the US. I was drawn to it — the attitude, the lifestyle, the hospitality. That’s what drew me here and what has kept me here,” Michael reflects.

There were connections between the San Diego and Dallas real estate markets, too. Some of Michael’s REALTOR® partners had relocated to Dallas, allowing him to begin building a lending business in Texas. The more time he spent in Dallas, the more he felt at home.

Six years later, Dallas has become Michael’s primary home and place of business, although he continues to run a successful team in San Diego.

“I slowly started to build a business in Dallas, going back and forth between Dallas and San Diego. Anytime there was an excuse to be in Dallas, I’d jump on it and stay a few days,” Michael explains. “Now, I’ve spent the last two years, really since COVID, mainly living in Dallas [and] loving every minute of it. It’s been great to watch our team here grow… Making new friends and business partners along the way has been extremely rewarding. For me, it’s a new frontier, a new challenge, and I love the growth here. There are tons of opportunities to keep growing my business in Dallas. There is never a dull moment.”

More Than Mortgage Lending

Michael describes his business as “sticky.” Once an agent or client works with him, they tend to become partners or clients for life.

Taking Flight

Outside work, Michael enjoys working out, spending time outdoors, and flying. He has his pilot’s license, allowing him the unique opportunity to explore the world on his own terms.

“I’m obsessed with flying,” he says with a smile. “I can fly down to Austin and check it out, or just get up and go and clear my mind. In real estate, we’re always running a million miles a minute, and when I’m up flying, there’s a sense of peace and calm. It’s a nice break.”

Michael’s focus on wealth management is one of the primary reasons for the business’ sticky nature. He understands that most lenders offer similar programs and rates, so he differentiates himself by becoming a wealth advisor, not just a lender.

“We’ve shifted our focus to being somebody’s wealth team captain,” Michael explains. “When we meet with a client, we talk about saving for retirement, managing credit cards well, and looking ahead to what their home payment does down the road. We take a bigger, broader approach rather than just doing a loan and moving on. That’s been our biggest advantage, and [it’s] also very rewarding to watch over time as our clients learn more and build their wealth. Right now, rates are high and business is down, but that approach has kept us busy and excited about where we and our clients are going.”

Michael’s business is about much more than closing loans. He’s focused on helping his borrowers achieve financial independence — whatever that means to them. He digs in with clients, educates them, and helps them achieve their long-term financial goals.

Michael is an optimist at heart. Above all else, he’s laser-focused on growth — and helping others grow. His positive mindset allows him to be an uplifting voice of reason, a quality that has served him well in business and life.

As Michael looks ahead, he intends to focus on developing meaningful relationships, allowing him to make a positive impact in the lives of countless more clients, partners, and friends.

“I’m working toward building more meaningful relationships with REALTORS® and business partners, going deeper with those relationships, and growing our businesses together. Over the last few years, we got so busy and were drinking from a fire hose. Now, the market has returned to a more normal state. It’s cooled off a bit, and it’s nice to reconnect with REALTOR® partners, sit down and map out a plan, and be a part of the team.”

For more information, visit MichaelChiodo.com.